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CHARLIE FREAK Lyrics

Artist: Steely Dan
Album: Pretzel Logic

Charlie Freak had but one thing to call his ownThree weight ounce pure golden ring no precious stoneFive nights without a biteNo place to lay his headAnd if nobody takes him inHe'll soon be deadOn the street he spied my face I heard him hailIn our plot of frozen space he told his talePoor man, he showed his handSo righteous was his needAnd me so wise I bought his prizeFor chicken feed

Newfound cash soon begs to smash a state of mindClose inspection fast revealed his favorite kindPoor kid, he overdidEmbraced the spreading hazeAnd while he sighed his body diedIn fifteen ways

When I heard I grabbed a cab to where he lay'Round his arm the plastic tag read D.O.A.Yes Jack, I gave it backThe ring I could not ownNow come my friend I'll take your handAnd lead you home

Comments/Interpretations

by Gonzo on 2/28/2009 12:57amI particularly like the Christmas bells

by LeftCoast on 4/14/2009 2:05pmWhile not an overly-emotional person, I never fail to cry whenever I sing this song. The vivid picture it paints of greed, regret, and redemption are even more meaningful in these desperate and uncertain times.

by Ioannis Pegios on 11/12/2009 2:09pmI love this song since i first heard it back in 1977. Pure Genius. By far the best song in Pretzel Logic

by Existential Loneliness on 10/24/2010 6:13pmSad...

by kearo on 2/9/2011 3:36pmbrilliant album thought provoking song loved it.

by Lime on 8/11/2011 8:45pmBeautifully sad song. One of their best I think.

by kiwi on 1/16/2012 3:09pmI love this song.

by SL on 7/1/2012 6:20pmSo brilliantly tragic. This song always reduces me to tears.

by Greg on 10/10/2012 2:49pmWhen you've been addicted and got straight this is all the more painful. Some of my friends didn't make it. You don't know the guilt I feel for helping them do this to themselves. Only God knows why it didn't happen to me.

by BUDnl on 5/29/2014 12:12amI was 15 in 1974 when I heard this song first and it moved me then. Now, 40 years later, it STILL moves me to tears. Becker and Fagen are epic!